Day 5

So as it turns out, the older lady that was so afraid that I would keel over during my hike on Day 3, was also one of the guides today. Her name is Sue and she is 66 years old. Sue has climbed Camel Back 10 times before. She was like a little lizard on the mountain, hoping from rock to rock with ease. While talking to her, I learned that when she has to take the hike slowly because of the likes of me, Sue then swims laps in the pool in order to get a real workout! I knew how hard I was working. Yet, she was barely phased.  I do mean "phased" here because as I was going back and forth through phases of OMG! WTF? to I can do this, Sue remained calm and serene. No matter my mood, her consistent response was, "Yes, but wait until you reach the top".  This is really hard! Yes, but wait until you reach the top. Wow, water really can do some interesting things to sandstone. Yes, but wait until you reach the top!  

I decided that I want to be Sue in 20 years and I told her so. (She blushed.) Hopefully, it won't take me 20 years to undo the damage I've done to my body with my not so fabulous choices--stress eating and lack of enough activity. Sue has clearly made other choices; and it shows!

This afternoon, instead of a lecture, we had a session where people were encouraged to share what this week at Fitness Ridge has meant to them. It was very eye opening and inspiring, and also sad at times. Some people are afraid to leave the resort, knowing that food will be there and they feel powerless to make good choices once the real world takes over again with stress, tight schedules and no professional chef  cooking for you and telling you what you will be eating. Others are afraid that they would undo the gains made while here. There were tears of anger and regret about being in the predicament of having poor health and being overweight. 

I tried to stay positive about the fact that I am doing something now. I'd like to think that it's never too late to make changes as long as you are 6 feet above ground. 

However, an hour or so later, I did find myself spiraling into a depression worried that there would be no change on the scale after all of my hard work and that I may still fall prey to diabetes. Fortunately, there were no cherry crumb pies near by and I was able to pull myself out of it by remembering that I have climbed 2 mountains in the last 2 days. I am closer to NOT getting diabetes than I was last week. Right?

On a funny note: there is a guest here who is in my hiking group. (I can't tell you his name because I didn't get his permission to be included in my blog.)  Anyway, his wife is very overweight and he has let us know that he is not pleased and is running out of patience about the problem. Namely: her complaining, lost of vitality, etc.  He is here, mostly, in support of her. 

Anyway, while on our travels today, the van passed a small farm that had a well-hung donkey. There were jokes and laughs about Viagra and Cialis and about needing to call a doctor. This guy then asked if the driver would back up so he could take a picture of this donkey, so that his wife could see what she was missing. Then, he snickered. 

So, I was left wondering, was he referring to his wife missing the unusual sight of a donkey in Utah, or the sight of a well hung donkey. Through his sarcasm and frustration it's easy to tell that he is bothered and saddened by their lack of intimacy, so it could go either way. Right?

I will not be asking him to clarify!!!